A municipal sanitary sewer system is a network of underground pipes carries wastewater from homes and businesses to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The sewer line that carries wastewater from the sanitary fixtures (sink, toilet, tub) and floor drains inside your home or business to the Town's sewer main is called a sewer lateral. As per the Sewer Use By-law, property owners own and are responsible for maintaining the sewer lateral from inside the building to the connection with the Town sewer.
What to do if you have a sewer blockage
- Check Toilets and Sinks for Blockages
- Call a professional
- If issue still persists the homeowner should contact a private service provider, such as a plumber, to identify the issue and remove the blockage.
- Homeowners also have the option to call Public Works at 705-445-1030 for assistance where service fees are applicable as per the 2025 Fees and Service Charges By-Law.
- Locate the Sewer Cleanout and Ensure Access
- The home’s sewer cleanout must be located and accessible. Please provide a clear path to the cleanout and make sure it is fully exposed to allow specialized machinery to be used.
- Call for a Sewer Safety Inspection
- Before doing any work beyond the outside walls of the building, visit the Ontario One Call (ON1Call) or call 1-800-400-2255 for a Sewer Safety Inspection so Enbridge Gas can eliminate the potential of a gas line conflict with your sewer lateral.
- The Inspection is provided at no cost to the homeowner. If the Town is performing the work, they will look after arranging for the sewer safety inspection.
5. Avoid Using Your Plumbing
- Avoid flushing toilets and using the sink, tub and shower drains until the source of the sewer backup has been corrected.
6. Replacement or Repair of a Failed Sewer Lateral
If the blockage is not able to be cleared, depending on the location of the blockage (private property or Town property), the owner or Public Works may need to excavate so that the sewer lateral can be repaired or replaced. The homeowner is responsible financially for the maintenance, replacement or repair of a failed sewer lateral on both private and Town property.
(a) Private Property - if the required work falls within the area from the building to the property line (private property), the homeowner can make their own arrangements to repair or replace the section on private property without the involvement of the Town. Contact Building Services for Building Permit requirements. When the sewer lateral at the property line has been exposed we would ask that you contact Public Works in order that the Town can confirm that the section within the roadway is clear.
(b) Town Property - where the failure occurs in the portion of the sewer lateral between the property line and the sewer main (Town property), the repair work must be undertaken by Public Works.
- Fees - the cost for replacement is 50% of time and materials to a maximum of $6,000.00 as per By-law 2020-015.
- Authorization for Work – the homeowner will need to authorize the work by signing a Work Order prepared by Public Works.
- Locates - Public Works will arrange for locations to identify any underground infrastructure in the dig area.
- Repair/ Replacement – Public Works will complete the repair or replacement of the sewer lateral.
- Invoice – following completion, the homeowner will receive an invoice for the works.
Both Private and Town Property – if replacement or repairs are needed on both private and Town property, the work on the Town section would take place after your install and would follow the same steps as in (b).
What can cause a sewer blockage?
- Tree roots growing into the sewer line
- Too much fat, oil and/or grease buildup in the sewer line
- Improper disposal of items such as rags, wipes, toys, garbage, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.
- Structural concerns such as breaks and/or collapses of deteriorated sanitary sewer lines
The most common cause of backed up drains or basement flooding in a home is a blockage in the sewer lateral connecting the home to the sanitary sewer on the street.